Hawks rally in 7th, upset No. 6 R-S in 9th

Howard scores winning run on RBI base hit by Shepherd

July 9, 2013

That was the South Hamilton baseball team here last night, as the Hawks came through when they most needed to in an upset victory over sixth-ranked (Class 2A) Roland-Story.

Down 1-0, South Hamilton (11-12, 6-11 HOIC) tied the game in the top of the seventh inning and then scored two runs in the ninth to prevail, 3-1.

"It was hard to hold back a smile after the game," South Hamilton head coach Bret Bell said. "We didn't play the greatest early on, but we fought all night. And to produce one run when you need it in the seventh, that shows a lot of heart from our team."

Lane Heinlein's RBI single brought Josh Doering to the dish with the tying run in the seventh. Doering, who finished 2-for-4, jumped aboard with a base hit of his own.

After a scoreless eighth, Devin Howard ignited the ninth-inning rush with a one-out triple to right field. Justin Shepherd brought him home with what turned out to be the game-winning single, and he later scored the insurance run on a squeeze bunt put down by Hunter Griffin.